Denmark will allocate DKK 60 million (USD 8.75 million) to Ukraine to support the fight against corruption under the EU Anti-Corruption Action Program (EUACI), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.
Denmark has been leading the EU’s anti-corruption program in Ukraine (EUACI) since 2016. During his visit to Ukraine today, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lekke Rasmussen announced support for the third phase of the program.
“Even before Russia’s illegal invasion, Ukraine had made significant progress in the fight against corruption, and even while the country is at war, it has managed to continue its positive development. But there are still areas that can be improved, and it is crucial for Ukraine’s EU dream that we help it achieve its goals,” the Foreign Ministry’s press service quoted Rasmussen as saying.
It is noted that the EU is contributing more than 70 million Danish kroner to the upcoming phase of the program, and Denmark is contributing almost 60 million Danish kroner.
Among other things, the program aims to promote openness and honesty in the reconstruction of Mykolaiv through close cooperation with the mayor and his team. It is planned to develop best practices for the reconstruction of Mykolaiv that can be used in other cities of Ukraine.
The ministry said that Rasmussen provided information on Denmark’s support for the EU’s anti-corruption program at today’s meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. The two foreign ministers met in the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv, for the restoration of which Denmark has a special responsibility.
They discussed, among other things, how Denmark and Ukraine can further develop cooperation on Mykolaiv and how Denmark can continue to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
The Danish Foreign Minister met with students of Mykolaiv Shipbuilding University as well as the city authorities.
Denmark is contributing DKK 91 million ($13.3 million) to projects to support the development of cybersecurity and defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
“The donation is made under the auspices of the Estonia-led and Luxembourg-led IT Coalition for Ukraine, which Denmark has joined along with a number of other countries,” the statement said.
Denmark and other members of the IT Coalition signed a cooperation agreement yesterday on the sidelines of a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.
“This donation is an important contribution to the long-term support for strengthening Ukraine’s cyber defense. Since the beginning of the invasion, Denmark has made a significant contribution to the Ukrainian liberation struggle, and this also applies to cyberspace,” said Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
In addition to Denmark, the coalition includes Estonia, Luxembourg, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Ukraine. So far, Denmark, Estonia and Luxembourg have made financial donations to the coalition.
On Sunday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced the accession of King Frederik X to the throne from the balcony of the Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, where he also appeared in front of the public for the first time as king.
Frederiksen thanked Queen Margrethe II for her service to the country.
“The Crown Prince will now be our king, we know him, love him and trust him,” the Prime Minister said.
She wished the new head of state all the best and, according to tradition, wished the king nine times for his health.
Then King Frederik X of Denmark delivered the first speech.
“My mother, Queen Margrethe, ruled Denmark for 52 years. She followed the times, but she took our common heritage as her starting point. Today she has left the throne, but I hope to be the king who unites the country of tomorrow. This is a responsibility I take on with respect, pride and great joy. I need all the support I can get from my beloved wife, my family, from you and from God,” he said.
This was preceded by the ceremony of Queen Margrethe II’s abdication, which she unexpectedly announced in her New Year’s speech on December 31.
Frederik is Margrethe’s eldest son. The title of Crown Prince of Denmark was passed to Frederik’s eldest son, Christian.
According to preliminary estimates by the Danish police, up to 100,000 people gathered in Copenhagen to celebrate the transfer of power.
In honor of the new king, a fireworks display will be held in the harbor of the Danish capital – three times 27 shots from four guns, and late in the evening a fireworks show will be organized in the Copenhagen amusement park Tivoli Gardens.
There is no coronation ceremony in the Danish tradition.
The Danish monarchy is the oldest in Europe, dating back to the tenth century.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree appointing Andriy Yanevsky as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Denmark.
The relevant document No. 714/2023 was published on the President’s website.
The decree comes into force on the day of its publication.
Previously, Andriy Yanevsky served as Head of the Department for Supporting the Work of the Management of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
By another decree, the President of Ukraine dismissed Mykhailo Vydoinyk from the post of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Denmark.
The relevant decree No. 710/2023 was published on the President’s website.
The decree comes into force on the day of its publication.
Mykhailo Vydoinyk has been Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Denmark since June 25, 2018.
Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Solsky and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark Jakob Jensen have signed a memorandum of understanding between the agriculture ministries of the two countries, the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy reported.
“The signing of the memorandum is aimed at long-term strategic cooperation to improve the efficiency and sustainability of food production and agriculture,” the statement said.
According to the document, the parties will exchange information and experience in the field of green transition of agriculture and food systems, including joint policies and climate solutions; in the field of food safety and food security.
Ukraine and Denmark are also interested in the prospects of livestock development, including management, animal welfare, animal health, animal breeding, feed and organic farming.
Ukraine and Denmark will set up a joint working group to identify areas of cooperation.
Solsky thanked the Danish government for its support and assistance. According to him, Danish farmers have been successfully developing their business in Ukraine for the past 15 years. They are not deterred by the war in Ukraine.
“Denmark is one of the examples of agriculture in Europe and the world of how to be efficient and profitable. And an example of very high technology. We are interested in investments and in a greater presence of Danes in Ukrainian business. This is a good experience, an extremely high-quality approach, something we would like to learn from, something we want to follow,” the Ukrainian minister emphasized.
In turn, Jensen expressed confidence in the effectiveness of cooperation with Ukraine in the agricultural sector.
The Danish government proposes to increase aid for Ukraine’s civil needs from DKK 1.2 billion to DKK 1.5 billion next year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.
“Denmark will increase the scope of assistance for the development of Ukraine, which will again become the largest recipient country of Danish aid. In the Finance Law for 2024, the government proposes to increase from DKK 1.2 billion to DKK 1.5 billion (about $43.5 million) allocated for the civil needs of Ukraine and the countries of the Eastern Neighborhood within the Ukraine Fund of Ukraine,” the Danish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Minister for International Development and Global Climate Policy Dan Jørgensen noted that “assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people is a top priority for the government.”
“Therefore, this year we again allocate a record high amount to civilian needs in order to continue to provide important support and help overcome the difficult consequences of the war. Ukraine’s recovery will be long, and the needs are huge,” the minister stressed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that the assistance will be aimed at providing emergency assistance to the victims of the war, as well as restoring the most important infrastructure of Ukraine.
“At the request of Ukraine itself, the government has taken on special responsibility for the city of Mykolaiv and its restoration. In Mykolaiv, Denmark is helping provide better access to water and heat, as well as restoring and repairing residential areas, schools and medical facilities,” the Danish ministry notes.
In addition, Denmark will assist countries such as Georgia and Moldova by accelerating the reforms and large-scale democratization processes they face as the consequences of the Russian invasion extend to neighboring countries with Ukraine, “which are suffering from Russian influence, the reception of Ukrainian refugees and power supply problems.”
